Newspapers Facts and Definitions
Whether it’s at home or the office, newspapers are part of our everyday lives. In fact, more than 24 billion newspapers are published every year. But after we finish reading our favorite sections, the paper is usually tossed aside in anticipation for the next issue.
When you’ve exhausted your daily or weekly news, consider placing it in the recycle bin rather than the trash. This is becoming a popular trend: In 2009, the recycling rate for newspapers in the U.S. was 88 percent.
Newspapers are recycled into a number of products. One of the most common is new newsprint. According to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), the average newspaper contains 30 percent recycled fiber content.
Newspapers are also recycled into other products, since it is often more cost-effective to recycle them locally, rather than ship them to distant mills for recycling into new newsprint. According to the NAA, newspaper is often recycled into:
- Cereal Boxes
- Egg Cartons
- Pencil Barrels
- Grocery Bags
- Tissue Paper
- Cellulose Insulation Materials
If you’re looking to recycle newspaper in your area, check out Earth911′s recycling locator.
